Book’em Danno Will Pass Breeders’ Cup Sprint

[Wandering Eyes]

The 2025 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint will not include what may be the best sprinter in training.

Trainer Derek Ryan announced Saturday that his star New Jersey-bred Book 'em Danno (Bucchero) is done for the year. Ryan had never fully committed to the Breeders' Cup, saying it was “50-50” in previous interviews.

The story was first reported by the Paulick Report.

“We've decided to wind it up for the year,” Ryan said. “I think he's done enough. He's had a hard and tough campaign. Look what he did at Saratoga (where he won three graded sprint stakes.)” He's done something that's never been done before. Even I can't believe he did it. After the hard year he has had, I just don't think going to the Breeders' Cup is the right to do.”

Ryan said part of the decision had to do with Paco Lopez's six-month suspension, meaning he would not be available to ride him in the Breeders' Cup.

“We lose our rider, which is a big part of it,” Ryan said. “What they've done to Paco is an (expletive) disgrace. But what can you do? It would have been a different situation if we could have use Paco. He fits the horse and he knows the horse. If I put someone on him who never ridden him before and if he didn't run like he normally does I'd regret running him in it.”

Ryan is already looking forward to the 2026 Sprint.

“I want to win the Sprint at Keeneland,” he said. “It's the only track where he should have won and didn't it. (He was second in this year's Perryville S. at Keeneland). Hopefully, we can rectify it. It's a tough business and it's a long way to, but I'd really like to win it there. Hopefully, God willing, everything will work out and we'll go from there.”

Ryan said he would give Book 'em Danno some time off before getting him geared up again in January. He has spoken often of his desire to have him ready for the rich sprint races in Saudi Arabia and Dubai.

Book 'em Danno's “tough year” has consisted of five starts and four wins. The three races he won at Saratoga were the GI Forego S., the GII Alfred Vanderbilt and the GIII True North S.

The post Book’em Danno Will Pass Breeders’ Cup Sprint appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article